I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Elysia gazed in awe at the millennium-old items lying on shelves and displays. Their containers were art pieces themselves, masterfully crafted by powerful adepts throughout the ages. Even the materials used exuded traces of mysticism, making her hold her breath.

"The furniture is enchanted, too?" she asked, her voice trembling as she sought to confirm her incredible suspicion.

"Yes. They keep the materials fresh from rotting and rusting," replied the granduncle, extending his palm over one display and pouring a stream of green mana out to encase it.

A protective barrier of sharp thorns suddenly appeared in response, wiggling as they voraciously absorbed the energy before recognising its signature.

"This is the last protection. It's a tier-five plant creature tamed by Selene. Usually, it only shows its thorns or roots because it's shy," the aunt explained, gently lowering Elysia's raised arm. "Don't attack this cutie. It diligently protected this place long before my birth and will be our last defense if Eldarion finds us," she added, patting the calm thorns with a warm smile.

"Come out, Lily. We'll take you to see the sun!" She said, excited to relieve this old friend from its duty.

"Really?!" The thorns shivered as a youthful voice reverberated cheerfully in the room. "You are not lying to me for more benefits, right?" The voice asked suspiciously.

"I swear upon Selene's name," answered the aunt, raising her right hand solemnly, her words weighing like a vow.

"Yay! Lily will go out!" The voice echoed, causing cracks to run through the ceiling and dust to billow. The trembling walls conveyed the creature's intense joy before tentacle-like roots rose from the ground in a terrifying display might.

Elysia's pupils constricted, knowing the creature could squash her like a bug if it turned hostile. However, the comforting hands of the old elves soothed her tense nerves as she continued to watch.

Soon, the roots dug a hole in the treasury's center, revealing verdant petals for a second. Before she could inspect them, a cocoon of roots and thorns wrapped it tightly. Gradually, its size magically reduced under her astounded eyes until it became as small as her first-year students.

"I was sad to leave without saying goodbye. But now we can go together!" Lily's lovely voice echoed after the aunt proved they didn't come to extort her. The perfume of nature engulfed the room as the thick barrier encasing her figure retracted inside her palms.

A small youth revealed herself, her vibrant green hair tied by a floral crown reflecting the treasury's lights vigorously. Her light green eyes landed on the scared Elysia as her naturally woven dark and green clothes accompanied her movements.

"Thank you for bringing the person Selene had been waiting for," she said, her lips curling into a radiant smile. "In exchange, I'll spare you from what is to come. Anyway, I doubt he would like any of you," she added, patting the old men of the group with a frown.

"What is happening? Who are you speaking about, and how can you leave of your own free will?" The granduncle asked with trembling eyes, his heart sinking. Lily had been their guardian for millennia, bound to the treasury, yet never complaining. However, her mention of leaving without saying goodbye had two worrisome implications.

Either she had never been bound to their family, or trouble from a distant past would soon resurface. However, Lily's answer caused their legs to grow weak.

"They found the last room. My seven thousand-year mission is finally over!" She exclaimed, clapping her hands with such force that a small shock wave blasted the six elves' hair backwards. The parting air travelled through the intricate corridor, navigating its twists and turns until it reached the duo.

Echoing the burst, Elven symbols appeared before Adam in the last room, causing a deep frown to cover his features.

"I know I have better luck than average. But aren't we too successful?" He asked Julius, feeling their apprehension before the mission was a joke.

"After the canyon and starvation, I'm just glad things turned out to be easy," the boy shrugged. Why would he worry about the only time things went in their favour? Between Avaloria's fiasco, the dullahan, Ossian almost enslaving them and their disastrous return trip, they deserved a bit of luck, in his opinion.

"Maybe you are right," Adam answered, scratching his ethereal hair. Perhaps hardships became a norm, causing him to suspect simple situations.

With a wry smile, he shook his head before reading the symbols, "Participant: one. Welcome to the challenge of virtue. Prove your integrity by answering the following three questions without lying."

"Is this a prank? I never lie. Bring the questions," he smirked, wondering how no one retrieved the grimoire before them with such easy challenges.

Meanwhile, Julius lowered his head guiltily. His big brother was indeed the most honest person he ever met. Yet, he remembered lying to him a few times to avoid criticism, like when he played by the cauldron and burned his precious materials.

He vowed silently to become as honest as his brother. Meanwhile, the latter read the first question, holding his head in contemplation. "If you could save either your best friend or a group of strangers from a life-threatening situation, whom would you choose and why?"

'What is this morally grey question?!' He screamed inwardly. No matter what he answered, he would look bad!

Without hesitation, he answered, "My friend. I'm not a hero and never claimed to be one! Anyway, what if the group comprises criminals? At least I'll save a good person and not betray our years of mutual trust."

As his words lingered, a bright light flashed on his ethereal form, turning green after a few seconds. Then, the symbols rapidly shifted under Julius' hesitant eyes.

'How can he decide so easily?' he thought, his soul torn as he visualised the situation. Even if he would ultimately choose to save his friend, his heart would bleed to see a group of innocent people die because of his choice.